Pricing device



Au 31, 1937. w F. J. HYDE 2,091,710

PRICING DEVICE Filed July 3]., 1936 [72 van tar,-

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Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED srrss PAENT QFFEQ 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for such purposes as indicating the price of merchandise, and in which means are provided for selectively displaying various price legends. The objects of my improvements are: first, to provide a small, attractive, and permanently useful pricing device that is adapted to display a plurality of ordinary price or selling legends; second, to provide means whereby such legends may be conveniently changed from time to time; and, third, to accomplish the above in a device that is simple, effective, and cheap to produce.

My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a face View of a typical form of one of the elementary portions of my device;

Figure 2 shows the element illustrated in Fig. i, in combination with means for assembling a plurality of such elements;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of three such elements, assembled to display a price legend;

Figure 4 is a face view of another type of elementary portion of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the element shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the means used for assembling elements of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing an assembly of five elements of the last said type, constituting a complete pricing device adapted for being placed upon a counter adjacent the article to be priced, or upon the article itself;

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating how three elements of the last said type may be assembled on a holder which is provided with pin supporting means;

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating how three elements of the last said type may be assembled on a holder of a different form, which is provided with tongue supporting means; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of three assembled elements of the type shown in Fig. 1,

laid uponone of their long sides to display a price legend more nearly horizontally than is possible in the cases of the other display methods illustrated.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My pricing device, of each of the types illustrated, is seen to comprise a plurality of elementary blocks; of uniform size and shape in each case, and having substantially triangular faces aligned face to face in registry to form composite prisms. Means are provided for holding any desired number of the blocks together, thus aligned. The axis of the aligning means may or may not be coincident with the geometrical longituolinal axis of the composite prism. When these two axes are coincident, however, it is possible for any of the blocks of such a series, to be turned about the axis of alignment for changing the price legend, without being disengaged from the aligning means.

In the type of elements illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and it, the triangular faces H are not equiateral, and this makes it possible to display pricing legends at angles that are either less or more than sixty degrees from the horizontal. Slots l2 extend inwardly from the centers of the short sides of these elements; and a bar i3 is adapted to engage the walls of the slots, by slightly compressing the material thereof, to assemble the elements in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 10. Sides it of these elements carry pricing indicia, which is adapted for being read when the elements are resting upon their short side; and sides l5 carry indicia that is adapted for being read when the elements are resting upon the opposite long side.

In the second form of my invention, the elemental blocks have holes 2 therethrough, at the geometrical centers of the triangular faces 25; and kerfs 26 extend from these holes to one apex of each block. A rod 21, of a length slightly greater than the thickness of the elements to be assembled thereby, has a diameter somewhat larger than that of holes 265. If the ends of the rod are tapered or roundedas indicated at 28, it may be pushed into these holes; the material of the elements being somewhat elastic, and adapted to flex slightly at the points 29. This will cause the elemental blocks to grip rod 21, to maintain themselves face to face in the desired positions.

In each of the elemental forms'shown in Figs. 49 inclusive, the aligning and assembling means co-axial with a line drawn perpendicularly to the faces of the elements through their geometrical centers. Thus each one of such elements can be turned as desired, about that axis.

The elemental blocks are made of substantial thickness; and,'in all the forms illustrated, the rectangular sides carry indicial which are cooperatively adapted to form selling legends, in the manner indicated. An assemblage of five blocks is shown in Fig. '7, and this composite unit is adapted for being placed upon a counter close to the article to be priced, or upon the article I itself.

Fig. 8 shows a convenient support for mounting a three unit prism. This comprises a base 3! and a supporting pin 32. Flanges 33 of the base are made resilient, so as to grip two corners of the elemental blocks.

Fig. 9 illustrates another form of support for elemental blocks in a set of three. This form of support also has resilient portions, as at 34, adapted to engage two corners of the blocks; and is it provided with a tongue 35, which may be slipped into crevices for supporting purposes.

Having thus fully disclosed'my invention, I claim:

1. A pricing device comprising; a plurality of blocks of substantial thickness, and of uniform size and shape, assembled face to face in registry to form a composite self-maintaining prism; exposed sides of the blocks having indiciathereon, whereby they are adapted to co-operatively display a legend; each of the blocks being provided with a slot extending inwardly from its periphery; and there being a rod engaging the walls of all of said slots, whereby the blocks are assembled, and the composite prism is maintained.

2. A pricing device comprising; a plurality of blocks of substantial thickness, and of uniform size and shape, assembled face to face in registry to form a composite self-maintaining prism; exposed sides of the blocks having indicia thereon, whereby they are adapted to co-operatively display a legend; each of the blocks having a hole therethrough, of which the axis is coincident with a line normal to the faces of the block at their geometrical centers; each of the blocks having a kerf extending from said hole to the periphery of the block; and the blocks being assembled and. maintained in position by means of a rod, passing through said holes, and yieldingly gripped by the walls of the holes.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein each block is rotatable about the axis of the prism to a new position of registry, without otherwise changing the relative positions of the elements of the group.

4-. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer ends of said kerfs are at corners of the blocks.

FRED J. HYDE. 

